Whether you’d like to learn more about alumni opportunities, share your story or simply reconnect, our Alumni Engagement team would love to hear from you.
Past alumni award winners
Honouring the graduates whose achievements, impact and dedication continue to inspire.
Celebrating excellence across the years
For more than a decade, the Alumni Awards have recognised graduates whose creativity, leadership and generosity make a real difference. Each year brings new stories of impact and possibility, showing the many ways Deakin alumni make a difference around the world.
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni Excellence Award | Andy Griffiths | Celebrated children’s author and literacy advocate, Andy inspires millions while supporting The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Diana Taylor AM | Respected lawyer and community leader, Diana drives change through mentoring, AFL leadership and supporting local care initiatives. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Steve Chun Yin LO | Founder of Wheel for Oneness, Steve empowers people with disabilities through sport, arts and community leadership. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Shaun Wilson | Co-founder of Bondi Sands, Shaun champions sustainability, inclusivity and mentorship while growing a global brand. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Anna Seymour | Dance artist, actress and producer creating award-winning performances while championing accessibility in the arts. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Jayden Battey | Emerging housing leader and social entrepreneur, Jayden advocates for social justice and supports vulnerable communities. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Sunaina Jaswal | Leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in sport, Sunaina champions opportunities for women and under-represented groups. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Dr Anika Molesworth | Scientist, farmer and author, Anika drives climate awareness and sustainable agriculture, inspiring communities worldwide. |
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni Excellence Award | Antoinette Braybrook AM | CEO of Djirra, Antoinette leads support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing family violence and drives national impact. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Fiona Campbell | Audit partner and industry leader, Fiona advances auditing standards while championing opportunities for women. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Lesley Harvey | Play therapist and SES volunteer, Lesley delivers vital mental health support to children and families in remote communities. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Sheree Marris | Author and environmental communicator, Sheree drives sustainability initiatives and advises leading organisations on environmental strategy. |
| Alumni Excellence Award | Dr James Mullins | Engineer and innovator, James develops virtual firefighting technology used across emergency services worldwide. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Rhydian Cowley | Olympic racewalker and environmental ambassador, Rhydian empowers sporting organisations and champions land conservation. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Sandeep Namburu | Brand consultant and advocate, Sandeep builds creative businesses while supporting startups and contributing to community initiatives. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann | Senior Rabbi and community leader, Gabi drives multifaith programs and promotes inclusion through advisory and government roles. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | Alexandra Viney | Athlete and coach, Alexandra represented Australia at the Paralympics while raising awareness for mental health and inclusion in sport. |
| Young Alumni Excellence Award | James Murphy | Entrepreneur and environmental advocate, James runs Sea All Dolphin Swims and directs efforts toward marine conservation. |
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni of the Year | Serdar Baycan | Architect and entrepreneur, Serdar leads major projects on Earth and in space, designing innovative and contextually aware environments. |
| Alumni of the Year | Dr David Newman | Aerospace medicine leader, David advances flight safety as a researcher, educator, and global advocate over 30 years. |
| Alumni of the Year | Professor Roianne West | Trailblazing Indigenous health leader, Roianne was Australia’s first Nursing Director with a dedicated Indigenous Health portfolio and the nation’s first Professor of Indigenous Health. |
| Alumni of the Year | Daniel Wordsworth | Humanitarian and mentor, Daniel leads community development and emergency responses across conflict zones worldwide. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Abrar Aziz | Sustainable energy innovator, Abrar provides pro-bono solutions for vulnerable communities and supports students and industry. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Eva Mackinley | Environmental campaigner, Eva drives initiatives to reduce single-use plastics and contributes to charitable and community programs. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Sophie McNamara | Lawyer and sustainability advocate, Sophie leads responsible practices and pro-bono programs in the business and legal sectors. |
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni of the Year | Dr Matthew Dingle | Engineer and innovator, Matt developed world-first construction technology and partners with Deakin to create shelters for disaster relief and homelessness. |
| Alumni of the Year | Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM | Pioneering educator, artist and Indigenous leader, Miriam-Rose empowers youth through culture, art and education, and is a nationally recognised advocate shaping brighter futures. |
| Alumni of the Year | Kate Palmer AM | Sports executive, Kate has led Sport Australia and Netball Australia, driving governance reform and safeguarding children in sport. |
| Alumni of the Year | Louise Adams | Engineer and executive, Louise advocates for female leadership in STEM while leading major civil and land development projects. |
| Alumni of the Year | Dr Glenn Laverack | Global health promotion leader, Glenn works with governments and the UN to empower communities and implement practical, culturally informed health strategies. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Aamir Qutub | Entrepreneur and technologist, Aamir builds digital enterprises, supports regional innovation and empowers communities through volunteer initiatives. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Tanya Dontas | Social enterprise leader, Tanya co-founded Vollie, connecting volunteers with organisations globally to make meaningful impact. |
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni of the Year | Saifuddin Bin Ahmad | Architect and sustainability leader, Saifuddin shapes innovative, energy-efficient buildings and advances green standards across Malaysia. |
| Alumni of the Year | Megan Gilmour | Social innovator and advocate, Megan empowers seriously ill children through robotics, enabling classroom participation and inclusion. |
| Alumni of the Year | Amenthi Jasinghe | Humanitarian leader, Amenthi delivers disaster response and development programs globally, specialising in emergency management. |
| Alumni of the Year | Dr Ben Hindson & the 10x Genomics Alumni Team | Biotech innovators, Ben and the 10x Genomics alumni team advance genomic research worldwide, driving breakthroughs in understanding disease. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Justine Flynn | Social entrepreneur, Justine co-founded Thankyou, directing profits toward programs that improve health, water and sanitation globally. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Uppma Virdi | Entrepreneur and educator, Uppma founded Chai Walli, sharing authentic Ayurvedic tea culture while championing diversity and inclusion. |
| Award | Winner | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Leigh Sales AM | One of Australia’s most respected journalists, Leigh is a celebrated broadcaster, author and interviewer shaping national conversations. |
| Alumni of the Year | Karen Stocks | Global digital leader, Karen has shaped Australia’s media-tech landscape, driving innovation across Google, Twitter and major industry boards. |
| Young Alumni of the Year | Khyber Alam | Optometrist, academic and humanitarian, Khyber delivers sight-saving care globally and supports children in Afghanistan through his charity. |
| Alumni Community Service Award | Dr Georgia Birch | Cross-cultural consultant and researcher, Georgia builds pathways between communities, driving programs that support African Australian families. |
| Alumni Community Service Award | Mark Sullivan | Public health innovator, Mark leads efforts to combat neglected diseases, developing life-changing treatments for communities worldwide. |
Watch past Alumni Award stories
Step into the world of Deakin alumni through our collection of award recipient videos. From emerging leaders to lifetime achievers, these stories capture the innovation, passion and community spirit that define our graduates.
2026 Deakin University Alumni Awards
The next generation of Deakin graduates making a meaningful impact were celebrated on 4 March 2026. Be inspired by those driving innovation, leading with purpose and shaping the future across industries and communities.
They say the best measure of a society’s success is how well they look after those who are most vulnerable. I’m grateful there are opportunities for all of us to make a difference, and celebrate how diverse the Deakin community is. Together, this community is genuinely striving to see a better world for all.
2025 Young Alumni Excellence Award recipient
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